Task Scams in Bangladesh
How fake micro-task platforms target Bangladeshi workers with bKash deposit demands disguised as unlocking earned commissions.
Part of: Task Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Task scams have spread rapidly in Bangladesh, where they are promoted heavily on Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp groups targeting young adults, garment workers, and homemakers seeking to supplement incomes. The low entry point — simple tasks like liking videos or subscribing to YouTube channels — makes participation feel accessible, and early small bKash payouts make the scheme appear genuine.
The fraud has become so widespread that Bangladesh Police cyber units have issued repeated public warnings and conducted arrests of domestic task scam operators, though international operations remain difficult to disrupt.
How this scam works on Bangladesh
A Bangladeshi victim joins a group through a friend's WhatsApp share or a Facebook post. The coordinator assigns simple daily tasks: like three YouTube videos, follow two Instagram accounts, write a product review. Completion earns a small bKash transfer — real, and within hours.
After building trust, premium task sets are introduced requiring a bKash 'activation deposit' ranging from a few hundred to several thousand taka. The promised per-task earnings are significantly higher. Once the deposit is paid, new fees appear: account verification, tax clearance, a withdrawal minimum. The cycle continues until the victim stops paying or the group vanishes.
Organisers maintain Bangladeshi phone numbers and use local cultural references to seem domestic, but operational control is often from overseas.
Common red flags
- Paid initial tasks build trust then a deposit is required to access higher-paying task sets
- Earnings accumulate in a visible balance but any withdrawal triggers a new fee
- Group uses social proof heavily — fake member testimonials with local names and profile photos
- Coordinator becomes aggressive or disappears when you question the deposit requirement
- Platform has no verifiable website or company registration beyond a WhatsApp group
How to protect yourself
- Understand that legitimate task platforms pay you without requiring you to deposit money first
- Stop immediately when any deposit is requested — this is always the fraud mechanism
- Warn friends in the same group before they reach the deposit stage
- Alert bKash fraud team about the recipient number
How to report it
- Report to Bangladesh Police Cybercrime Unit or Cyber Support helpline (01779-554391) with screenshots
- Contact bKash fraud reporting with the payment recipient number
- Report the Facebook or WhatsApp group to the platform so it can be removed
Frequently asked questions
Should I report even a small loss, like a few hundred taka, to the police?
Yes — even small individual losses matter because these scams operate at scale, and your report contributes to the evidence base that has supported arrests of domestic operators. Report to the Cyber Support helpline or Bangladesh Police Cybercrime Unit regardless of the amount lost.
Is it different if the task group is run by someone I know personally rather than a stranger?
Be equally cautious — the person running or promoting the group locally may not be the actual organiser and may themselves be an earlier participant unaware the scheme is fraudulent. The deposit-to-unlock-earnings mechanic is the real warning sign regardless of who is presenting it to you.
How do I get my bKash deposit back after paying to unlock a 'premium task set'?
Contact bKash's fraud reporting team immediately with the recipient number and transaction details, since prompt reporting improves the still-limited chance of any reversal. Also file a report with the Bangladesh Police Cybercrime Unit, which can investigate the wider group.
Have Bangladeshi task scam operators been arrested?
Yes. Bangladesh Police Cyber Tribunal and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have arrested numerous domestic task scam operators. However, internationally organised operations remain harder to disrupt. Reporting every case — even small losses — contributes to evidence gathering that supports larger prosecutions.